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Lainey Wilson is currently the undisputed queen of country music. She’s winning Entertainer of the Year awards, starring in Yellowstone, and basically breathing fire on every stage she touches. But for a long time, there was this massive question mark hovering over her personal life. Who was the guy in the background? Enter Devlin “Duck” Hodges.
Honestly, the way they went about their relationship is kind of a masterclass in how to stay normal when your life is turning into a whirlwind. They didn’t do the big Instagram debut immediately. They didn’t sell their story to the tabloids. They just lived.
The Secret Years of Lainey Wilson and Duck Hodges
Believe it or not, these two have been together since 2021. Yeah, you read that right. While the rest of the world was trying to figure out if Lainey was single, she was already hanging out with a former NFL quarterback.
They met through mutual friends in Nashville. It wasn’t some high-glamour, red-carpet meet-cute. It was just a group of people hanging out in a city where everyone knows everyone. Their first date? It was at a place called Silverados. If you know anything about Lainey, you know she’s not about that "fine dining and white tablecloths" life. She told People magazine that the bar had free beer and wine from 5 to 10 p.m. Her reaction was basically: "This boy likes to ball on a budget too. This is gonna work out."
That’s the thing about Lainey Wilson and Duck Hodges. They fit because they’re both cut from the same small-town cloth. He’s from Kimberly, Alabama. She’s from Baskin, Louisiana.
For two years, they kept things completely under wraps. Think about how hard that is in the age of TikTok and paparazzi. People started getting suspicious in early 2023 when Lainey performed in Pittsburgh—where Duck played for the Steelers—wearing his jersey. Fans aren't dumb. They put two and two together. Duck even flirted with her on X (formerly Twitter) about it, acting like he didn't know her.
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Then came the 2023 ACM Awards. They finally walked the red carpet together. The internet basically broke.
Why They Waited to Go Public
Lainey has been pretty open about why she kept him hidden for so long. She wanted to make sure he was "in it for the right reasons." Being a rising star is weird. You never know if someone is there for you or for the spotlight.
Turns out, Duck was just there for Lainey.
He’s not a guy who needs the fame. He had his own taste of it as "Duck" Hodges, the undrafted free agent who stepped in for Ben Roethlisberger and became a cult hero for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He knows what it’s like to have the crowd screaming your name, and he also knows what it’s like when the cheering stops.
Life After Football for Duck
After his stint with the Steelers and the Los Angeles Rams, and a brief time in the CFL with the Ottawa Redblacks, Duck retired from professional football in 2022. He didn't just sit around, though. He’s been working in real estate, specifically with Mossy Oak Properties and Myers Cobb Realtors. He’s also a champion duck caller—which is actually where the nickname comes from, not just a catchy sports moniker.
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The Engagement That No One Saw Coming (But Everyone Wanted)
In February 2025, they finally made it official.
Duck proposed on the porch of the George Jones estate in Franklin, Tennessee. That is about as country as it gets. Lainey announced it on Instagram with the caption "4x4xU forever," a nod to her song "4x4xU."
Wait, did she write that song about him? Absolutely.
She’s admitted that before Duck, she struggled to write love songs. She just hadn’t felt that kind of grounded, stable love before. Now, her recent albums like Whirlwind are peppered with tracks that clearly point toward her life with him. He’s the guy who keeps her blood pressure down when the industry gets too loud.
What’s Next for the Couple?
If you’re waiting for a wedding next week, don't hold your breath.
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Lainey is busy. Like, "touring-until-2027" busy. She’s hosted the CMA Awards, she’s acting, and she’s constantly on the road. At a recent event in early 2026, she joked that Duck is starting to ask, "Are we really getting married?" because the planning has been so slow.
They’ve both said they want a simple life eventually. They talk about raising kids in a small-town environment, limiting screen time, and sticking to the traditions they grew up with. Nashville is home for now, but they seem like the type to disappear to a ranch the second they get a chance.
How to Follow Their Journey
If you’re looking for more updates, here is what you should actually do:
- Watch the Awards Shows: Duck is almost always on her arm now. At the 2025 CMAs, she gave him a massive shout-out during her Entertainer of the Year speech.
- Listen to the Lyrics: If you want the real tea on their relationship, listen to "4x4xU" and "Counting Chickens." The latter was actually a playful nudge for him to propose.
- Follow Duck on Social Media: He’s surprisingly funny. He posts a lot of support for Lainey but also shares a ton about his hunting and real estate life.
Lainey Wilson and Duck Hodges are the rare celebrity couple that feels like they could be your neighbors. They’re proof that you can be the biggest star in the world and still find someone who just wants to go to a dive bar with you for a free beer.
Keep an eye out for wedding news later in 2026, but expect it to be a private, heartfelt affair when it finally happens. For now, they’re just enjoying the ride.